Bridging Worlds: The Power of Connections Beyond the NYT Puzzle
Ever played the New York Times’ Connections puzzle? It’s all about spotting the hidden link between seemingly unrelated things and putting them into a group. Now, think about using that concept when meeting people who seem different than you. It’s like a real-life puzzle, but way more rewarding. In this day and age of spending endless hours on our computers, tablets, and cell phones, we could use a little more human connection. Every day we have an opportunity to encounter individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. These differences, though enriching, can sometimes create perceived barriers between us. However, by applying the essence of the “Connections” puzzle to human interactions, we can discover hidden links that bridge these divides. Instead of focusing on the obvious categories that separate us—race, religion, gender, and so on—we can choose to seek out commonalities that unite us.
It doesn’t take much.
When I was in Saudi Arabia last week, I had a brief, yet telling exchange with a woman behind the front-desk of the hotel I was staying in. As I approached her with a question, I took a piece of candy that was in a dish next to the welcome sign. She immediately but gently grabbed my hand. I thought, oh, maybe I shouldn’t have taken the candy! Instead, she gave the candy back and pulled my hand in to get a closer look — at my manicure! I couldn’t see her expression because she was wearing a Niqab, so I could only see her eyes. But I could tell after looking at my nails, her eyes danced with approval. After a closer inspection of my French tips, she gave me my hand back, so I gave her the candy back! This time she took it and we both spontaneously laughed! This moment of shared joy over a piece of candy and curiosity over a manicure was a reminder that the basis for connection is often simpler than we think.
I love how the concept behind Connections is not just a puzzle to be solved but a metaphor for human interaction. In a world that often focuses on what divides us, choosing to seek out our shared connections is a radical act of optimism and unity. It’s a commitment to seeing beyond the categories that society imposes on us and finding the shared human experiences that unite us.
Let’s not shy away from people who seem different. Instead, let’s be curious and find those hidden links to our humanity. You never know, the next person you meet could turn into a meaningful connection, all because you looked beyond the surface.
If I created today’s Connections puzzle, I would scatter the words “Smile, Curiosity, Question, and Open-Mind”. If you chose these four words, you would see “Congratulations, you found a group called How to connect with others.”
Your Head Usher,
Marilyn
